Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket
A diminutive concealable pistol designed by John Moses Browning.
The Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket is a compact, hammerless, striker-fired, semi-automatic single-action pistol manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company from 1908 to 1948. Designed by John Moses Browning, it was marketed as a small concealable firearm easily tucked into a vest pocket for unobtrusive carry, following Browning's earlier European version, the FN Model 1906. Both pistols were chambered for the Browning-invented .25 ACP (6.35mm Browning) cartridge.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- United States
- Is Ranged
- yes
- Designer
- John Browning
- Manufacturer
- Colt's Manufacturing Company
- Production Date
- 1908–1948
- Number
- 420,705
- Weight
- 368.5 g (13 oz)
- Length
- 114.3 mm (4.5 in)
- Part Length
- 51 mm (2 in)
- Cartridge
- .25 ACP (6.35mm Browning)
- Action
- Semi-automatic, single action
- Feed
- 6-round detachable magazine
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Internally known as the Model 'N', the 1908 Vest Pocket measures 4.5 inches in length with a 2-inch barrel and weighs 13 ounces. It is fed by a six-round single-column magazine and features fixed open iron sights, which were small and rudimentary but typical for hideout automatics of its era. Colt's advertising highly touted its advanced safety features, including a standard slide-locking safety catch and a grip safety. In 1916, Colt engineer George Tansley invented a third safety feature, the magazine safety disconnector, which prevented accidental firing with the magazine removed. This device was added to production in 1916 or 1917 in the latter 139,000 serial number range and patented by Colt in 1917. Colt included a green brochure marking its inclusion with every Model 1908 sold for a year after its introduction. In approximately the 280,000 serial number range, the left side slide inscription was altered to include the patent date for the disconnector, also known as the 'Tansley Device'.
Reader's Guide
The Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket was produced for 34 years, with a total of approximately 409,061 pistols manufactured, paused from 1943 to 1945 due to World War II production demands. Additional pistols were assembled post-war from parts on-hand numbered 420,001 through 420,705. An improved redesign became the Baby Browning, which remains in production. The Model 1908 saw limited service with American and British OSS and SOE units during World War II due to its small, highly concealable nature. Because of this association, unscrupulous dealers have been known to stamp 1908s with 'US Property' or the flaming ordnance bomb or some variation thereof, but no known 1908 Vest Pocket was ever marked as such, due to the covert nature of the SOE and OSS in fear of capture. The pistol was mainly produced with the highly polished Colt Carbona Blue finish (also known as Charcoal bluing) and featured color-casehardening of the safety catch, grip safety, and trigger. A second popular option was polished nickel plate, with specialty finishes including gold and silver plating and ornate engraving. Standard grip materials included black hard rubber in square and round top configurations and finely checked walnut, all with a medallion emblazoned with the 'rampant Colt' in two differing styles. More elaborate grip options such as ivory (plain and carved) and mother of pearl were also offered.
Did You Know?
- The Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket was internally known as the Model 'N'.
- Colt engineer George Tansley invented the magazine safety disconnector for this pistol in 1916.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket?
It is a tiny, hammerless, striker-fired semi-automatic pistol that Colt's Manufacturing Company produced from 1908 through 1948. The entire design philosophy was to build a small enough gun that it could slip unnoticed into a vest pocket for everyday concealment.
Who designed the Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket?
John Moses Browning is the designer behind the pistol. He had already created the European FN Model 1906, and the 1908 Vest Pocket was his follow-up tailored specifically for the American market.
What round does the Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket fire?
It is chambered for the .25 ACP cartridge, also called the 6.35mm Browning, which was itself invented by John Moses Browning. That low-recoil round was chosen to keep the frame small and the pistol easy to handle in a pocket.
How long was the Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket in production?
Colt kept it on the line for a full forty years, from 1908 all the way to 1948. That long production run made it one of the most enduring small-pistol designs of its era.
How big is the Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket?
The whole gun measures just 4.5 inches overall, with a barrel of only 2 inches. That compact footprint is precisely what made it practical to tuck into a vest pocket without being noticeable.
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